The Pulpit Commentary — Leviticus — Section 156

is, a linen sash for tying the tunic round Its purpose and its meaning in the eyes or the body, with variegated ends hanging the people would have been twofold : first, on each side to the ankles; thirdly, the 11.rter the manner of the king's crown and tobe, thnt is, a blue V08ture, woven of one the judge's robe, it served to manifest the piece, with boles for the head and arms to fe.ct that the funotion of priest was com- pass through, reaching from the nook to mitted to the wearer; and next, it symbolized below the knee, the bottom being orna- the necessity of being clothed upon with the mented with blue, purple, and scarlet pome- rigl1teousness of God, in order to be able to granates, al temating with golden bells ; act as interpreter and mediator between fourthly, the ephod, whioh consisted of two God and man, thus foreshadowing the shoulder-pieces, or epaulettes, me.de of Divine Nature of him who should be the mriegated linen and gold thread, fastened Mediator in autitype. together in front and at the back by a Vers. 10, 11.-Tile anointing is still more narrow strap or band, from which hung, specifically the means of consecration than before and behind the wearer, two pieces of the investing or the washing. (For the oloth confined below by the curions girdle of anointing oil, which is here referred to as a the ephod, that is, by a sash made of the same thing well known, see Exod. xxx, 22-25, material as the ephod itself. Into the ephod whero its component parts are designated.) were sewn two onyxes, one on each shoulder, The consecration of things as well as of per- in gold filigree settings, one of them en- sons is sanctioned by the action of Moses, gra,en with the names of half of the tribes, who anointed the tabernaole and all that and the other with the remaining half; and was therein, and se.notuled them. They from two rosettes or buttons by the side of were thus set apart for holy purposes. By these stones depended twisted gold chains all that was therein would be meant the ark, for the support of the breastplate. Fifth the vail, the altar of incense, the candlestioks, came the breastplate, which was a square the table of shew-bree.d. After the taber- pocket, made of embroidered linen, a span nacle and its furniture had been anointed, long and a span broad, worn upon the the altar-that is, the brazen alte.r--e.nd all breast and hanging from the gold chains his vessels, both the le.ver and his foot, were above mentioned, the lower ends of the gold sprinkled; not once only, as the things within chain being tied to two rings at the upper the tabernacle, but seven times, to show that and onter corner of the breastplate, while it we.s specie.Uy holy, although situated only the upper and inner comer of the same was in the court. The laver, for the priests' use, attached to the ephod by blue thread run- was between the door of the tabernacle and ning through two sets of rings in the breast- the brazen altar of burnt offering. Its Jooe, plate and ephod respectively. The outer or base, is described in .Exod. xxxviii, 8, side of the breastplate was stiffened and as made, according to the translation of adorned by t we] ve precioua stones, set in the Authorized Version, "of brass, of the four rows of three, each stone having on it looking-glasses of the women assembling, the name of one of the tribes of Israel. The which assembled at the door of the taber- breastplate being double and the two sides nacle." and the bottom being sewn up, the pocket Ver. 12.-Xe poured of the anointing oil formed by it ha.d its opening at the top. upon Aaron's head. '.l'he change of the verb Into this pocket were placed the Urim and poured for sprinkled, indicates that the the Thnmmim, which were probably two amount of" the precious ointment" poured balls of different colours, one of which on "upon the head, thnt ran down unto the being drawn out indicated the approval of beard, and went down to the skirts of his God, and the other his disapproval, as to garments" (Ps. cxxxiii. 2), was far greater any point on which the high priest con- than the.t with which the furniture of the sulted him. (The Jewish tradition, that tabernacle hod been anointed. The oil the Divine answer by the Urim and the sprinkled on the holy things sanctified Thummi.m came by a supernatural light them as means of grace. The oil poured thrown on certain letters in the names of upon Aaron represents the grace of the the tribes, has no foundation.) 'fhe last Holy Spirit, coming from without, but part of the dress to be put on was the mitre, diffusing itseU over and throughout the or head-dress of liuen, probably of the whole consecrated man. nature of a turban: to which, by a blue Ver. 13.-The investiture of Aaron's ■ons string, was attached the golden plate, .in such -Nadob, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithemar-follows a way that it rested length wise on thtJ fore- the conseoration of their father. They are \iead, and on this plate or holy crown were robed, aocording as the Lord oommancled inscribed the words," Holiness to the Lord." Jllloaes in Exod. :u:viii. 40, in the white The investiture took place aa the Lord tunic, the sash, and the cap. But there is commanded llrlosea, that is, in accordance no statement here of their being anointed, with the ipetructions given in E:s;od. xxviit, altJiough their anointing is orde~d in .Elxo4, Oil, VUL 1-36.] THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. 117